Alfa Romeo 1966 Spider 105, Faq

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Page 2: ...2 ALFA ROMEO 105 115 SPIDER FAQ covering cars built from 1966 through 1994 By Scott Johnson Copyright 1996 Third Edition Released August 2001 All Rights Reserved ...

Page 3: ...Your Alfa Spider 22 Modifying your Alfa Spider 24 Day to day in an Alfa Spider 28 The Care and Feeding of your Convertible Top 30 Maintaining your Alfa 31 Insuring your Alfa Spider 33 Driving Your Alfa Spider 36 Spider Trivia and Other Questions 37 Final Words 42 Appendix A Factory Recommended Maintenance Intervals 44 Appendix B Capacities and Recommended Consumables 45 Note This document is not s...

Page 4: ...E Throughout this document I will be referring to these cars as variously 105 105 115 and 115 Spiders This is the model numbering system Alfa Romeo used on their cars and assists people telling the various Spiders apart Alfa has produced a number of different Spiders with model numbers like 750 and 101 as well as 105 and 115 This number can be found under the hood of the car on a plate riveted to ...

Page 5: ...he only real Alfa of the 105 series Time has caught up with the Spider s design this seems to be a common occurrence with Alfas of all sorts since I have never heard anyone say anything bad about the looks of the cars today Quite the contrary their styling bears much more resemblance to modern cars than anyone could have predicted when it was introduced At least some of the design features of the ...

Page 6: ... Alfa Spider s history in the distant future FIAT also produced a Spider but this was designed and priced more along the lines of the lower cost English makes A Duetto was prominently featured in the movie The Graduate starring Dustin Hoffman Indeed the movie popularized the Spider so much that in later years Alfa created a Graduate trim level in their US cars Because of this and because the body ...

Page 7: ... engined brethren but still recognizably Alfa and still quite a lot of fun to own and drive Because of the different tax structure in the US the lower cost of fuel and the typically longer distances Americans drive their cars Juniors were never officially imported to this country Some made it over anyway but because of their smaller engines and lower performance are usually worth substantially les...

Page 8: ...part with great suspicion In actuality the system provides better fuel control than the dual Weber setup without sacrificing any power or driveability It is very straightforward if somewhat unique and once the proper manuals and relatively inexpensive equipment are acquired very simple to set up and maintain In delivery it is quite similar to the tuned port injection systems introduced in American...

Page 9: ...ing kits have helped a great deal The model designation of the cars changed around this time as well becoming 115 XX Spiders the XX being replaced by various numbers depending on the trim level of the cars and their relationship to the rest of the Alfa Romeo line They will be referred to as such through the rest of this document In my own opinion the Spider s overall combination of performance ref...

Page 10: ...ents were improved by the addition of a 5 mph bumper requirement and emissions tightened to the point that even Alfa had to add a catalyst and learn to live with low octane gasoline The Series 2a cars are distinguished externally by the large prominent black rubber baby buggy bumpers It would seem that Alfa like just about every other European manufacturer except for Porsche had had it with Congre...

Page 11: ...ost certainly be better than when they first appeared However you can t really change how much the cars weigh and so the performance of a 2a will probably never match the performance of a 2 with identical modifications While modifying a Series 2a to make it look like a Series 2 seems to be a good idea according to owners who have tried the conversion there are actually a lot of changes in the stru...

Page 12: ...Bumper integration was substantially improved from Series 2a although still nothing like the elegance of the early cars going from the ugly rubber bumpers to somewhat more stylish black plastic and metal A prominent lower spoiler was added to the nose giving it a distinctive chin and something ELSE to bash on speed bumps and parking stops Rear bumper integration was especially good although a cont...

Page 13: ... a redesign in 84 which are then interchangeable from 84 94 I have been advised that while the hard tops are nice they are also a pain especially if you live in the warmer climates It takes two people to remove one they are large and difficult to store and make impulsive decisions to lower the top impossible unless you want to leave it on the side of the road I have been told that it doesn t seal ...

Page 14: ...o such considerable trouble to keep the Spider legal in the US and update its styling periodically with changes that required substantial retooling These were not cheap modifications At any rate the Spider stayed Because convertibles were coming back into style there are actually quite a few comparative road tests in the literature using the Series 3 cars They were always praised for their road ha...

Page 15: ...ina the design firm that created the original Duetto some 25 years earlier really went all out to make this revision work Bumper integration always a sore spot with the cars going back in the US more than twenty years was nothing short of wonderful In front the inverted triangle grille that is an Alfa styling trademark reappeared again for the first time since the Series 2 cars The front chin spoi...

Page 16: ...t importantly it was relatively cheap with an introductory sticker of I believe 13 800 US in 1990 special thanks to BD for advice on the relationship of the Spider and the Miata Perhaps the deepest irony of all though was that the Miata very closely resembled in exterior appearance the Spider s first primary competitor the Lotus Elan The Miata immediately created a sensation and sold by the thousa...

Page 17: ...have been any kinder to Alfa s employees nor might they have kept the company s product line any more distinctive would Alfisti have really wanted to see a Mazda engined Ford Capri based spider successor Ferrari may be what the average American thinks of when someone says classic Italian car but to many Italians it was is and always will be Alfa Romeo During the buyout FIAT had to reassure the Ita...

Page 18: ...ulatory climate of the 1970s and then later by the financial constraints of their own company One only has to look at what happened to the Spider s original competitors to appreciate the accomplishments of Alfa s engineers Austin Healey disappeared as an automotive manufacturer even before the 1970s MG went to the absolute minimum with its MGB to accommodate the American market eventually becoming...

Page 19: ...im and the doors line up properly if they don t it could be a sign of hidden collision damage Take a long hard look at the front nosepiece as people seem to just love backing into these cars and I ve seen entire sections of that panel constructed from bondo and scrap metal Look in the trunk under the mat for wrinkling in the sheet metal this indicates a hit in the rear None of these things necessa...

Page 20: ...pensive and tend to wear out over time They are nearly identical in form and function to thermostats found on most older refrigerators Because the replacement cost is so high usually around 200 many owners opt instead for a mechanical cable device Whether you want to put up with one of these is your business I tend to be of the opinion that sophisticated Italian sports cars with exotic induction s...

Page 21: ...off time hours trying to make it go out However if the light burns bright and the car runs roughly it could be the sign of a failing fuel pump which is expensive It is normal for the cars to show strong nearly constant oil pressure when cold and then have very variable oil pressure when warmed up It is normal for a warm 2 0L engine to show zero oil pressure at idle on the gauge It is not normal fo...

Page 22: ...like twenty five years before appreciation begins to surpass inflation and even then it is not guaranteed When this finally does occur the car can be considered to be following the market trends of the used classics A large number of variables affect what price a used classic can reasonably expect to fetch NOTE in all of these discussions I am assuming a car in excellent condition Was the car popu...

Page 23: ...umbers has styling that can only charitably be called plain and while it does have sophisticated mechanicals and performance that can match a GTV s as a four door sedan its broader base target would mainly be people with families Unfortunately people with families even enthusiast people with families tend to be more interested in modern amenities like air conditioning power windows and cruise cont...

Page 24: ...for a few years now and so I can really no longer speak authoritatively on how much excellent cars of the various model years are going for at this time However it should be noted that in general Series 4 cars should be depreciating Series 3 and 2a cars should be holding steady Series 2 cars should be appreciating slightly approximately 5 10 per year and Duettos should be following market trends d...

Page 25: ...ed that any user modifications are difficult we try to hop the cars up with computer chips massive tires and wheels and anything else we can get our hands on It is from this tradition some would say handicap that many first time Alfa Spider buyers come from in America It explains a lot of why many of us end up trying to do to things to these cars Alfa Spiders and just about any performance Europea...

Page 26: ...can 8 cylinder engine Of course you have to pay over 100 for a water pump that will only cost him 20 but you re not going to tell him that Please don t get me wrong It most definitely is possible for an owner to modify an Alfa to perform better Some people find the suspension is too soft or the engine could be made to put out just a few more horses It is really very subjective But bolt on modifica...

Page 27: ...eck your local laws But even a Series 2a owners should look to what the factory did as a guide to what they should do Exhaust manifolds camshafts induction systems exhaust systems etc should all be modified backward toward a Series 2 car 1973 1974 Even though it is apparently very difficult to modify the 2a s appearance to make it resemble a 2 I often wonder if there wouldn t be a market for fiber...

Page 28: ... much or as well to really gonzo tire choices Otherwise owners of Series 1 2 3 and 4 cars should realize that as the saying goes There s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch Modifying your Spider to go faster or turn better will usually result in adverse effects to driveability ride comfort and durability not necessarily all at the same time though If you feel the compromise is worth it go right ahead Sp...

Page 29: ...nd it does sometimes fail This device acts in place of a U joint just behind the transmission Failure is usually indicated the same way as U joint failure a sudden increase in drivetrain vibration Always inspect the donut twice a year by getting under the car and checking it visually and manually by feeling for cracks and tears If it is damaged get it replaced Letting a damaged donut go can ruin t...

Page 30: ...any times the top itself will be fine but the glass will be torn or clouded to the point of opacity I have heard of places that offer to replace just the window but it requires removal of the current top no easy task without damaging it and I have not been advised of the results I have heard reports of people attempting to put zippered windows in the tops but have not heard of any of those results...

Page 31: ... yellow pages This means that even if you live out in the middle of nowhere nearly all of your parts needs are just an overnight shipment away A word on the parts peculiarities of Alfa Alfa Romeo before WWII was a company that built hand made very expensive cars in very small numbers in this they were somewhat similar to what Ferrari has become today Even though the company switched strategies and...

Page 32: ...ove and you have to conform to later more stringent rules It is unknown exactly how many Alfa Romeo automobiles slipped by customs in this fashion Most were probably brought in through Canada An easy way to find out is if you have a Series 2 car titled as a 1969 model Alfa didn t MAKE any 1969 Series 2 cars I don t think they did anyway so if you are one of these people try and cross check your se...

Page 33: ...d sure to put those lock washers back Nothing is extra on these cars everything has a place and a purpose even if that purpose is not immediately apparent If you are coming to these cars after owning and working on American cars for years be especially careful Like fine watches they are designed to tight tolerances and because of their small overall size tend to have parts that while bulletproof o...

Page 34: ...CIDENT Both the front and rear zones of the car are meant to destroy themselves in an impact of any real force Where other car makers designed the seats and seat restraint systems to help absorb the impact of a collision and thereby reduce overall damage to the car if they considered designing any sort of safety features into their cars at all many didn t Alfa designed the entire CAR to absorb the...

Page 35: ...EAD YOUR POLICY VERY CAREFULLY Especially any sections on what happens when you and the company disagree on a given settlement This can be incredibly important when it comes time to settle a claim Another kind of insurance is worth considering Agreed value policies different and distinct from fixed value policies are an extremely valid way of insuring your Alfa Rates are very reasonable if your ca...

Page 36: ...g the absolute longest time to do anything putting you off when you do call and sometimes other less subtle tactics TAKE HEART You aren t trying to cheat them you just want what s right Be pigheaded about it Never ever take no for an answer Always be polite but always be firm The bad news is it will probably take three to six months to settle The good new is you will win Be wary of having the car ...

Page 37: ...n duty to protect me from myself in this case However about 40 of the time they would happily move aside and wave me through when I came whistling up behind them in my Alfa Every once in awhile go tearing through the gears right up to the red line when you re accelerating onto the highway And while they are not built for it and you should be careful it s always fun to shut down an uppity Ford Prob...

Page 38: ... that is keeping the value of the earlier Series 2 cars so low Also just as a general rule the part you really need is many times the part that can t be found Don t feel left out or unlucky this seems to be the Murphy s Law of classic auto ownership Externally the story is a bit different I believe that the hood of the car is interchangeable throughout the entire run The Series 1 cars share very l...

Page 39: ...seatbelt systems are easily available and are meant to be fit into cars not designed for them If you want more protection in a Series 1 2 or 2a it is probably a lot less trouble to fit one of these third party four point systems although many if not all require a rollbar to be added as well Recently an aftermarket kit has appeared for a three point system that is meant to fit on the earlier cars I...

Page 40: ...fferent sizes of oil filters were fitted to the cars over the years This is probably the result of clearance problems with the later cars accessories forcing smaller and smaller filters to be fitted The original filter listed for Series 2 cars PH 2 in Fram numbering I believe is enormous much too large for any standard filter wrench to fit it It is also quite difficult to find The filter recommend...

Page 41: ...hich is becoming downright irreplaceable It does make a wonderful supplement to the smallish trunk and holds about six old fashioned paper grocery bags just low enough on a Series 1 2 or 2a at least that you can travel down the interstate with the top down and not worry about blowing eggs all over that 18 wheeler behind you A gentleman in Europe has informed me that the Spider actually was rated t...

Page 42: ... lead to your right thigh cramping up after a few hours Never tighten the mounts to the signal light lenses front and rear on the early cars more than JUST snug Overtightening can break the mounting points and ruin the lens What s the most important tool I should take with me when I go on a long trip in my Spider A cellular phone Think about it Final Words In the long run I have found the Alfa Spi...

Page 43: ... memory made real in steel and aluminum fire and noise After the intense competition of the 1960s and the sudden crushing weight of regulations oil crises and general malaise of the 1970s only the Alfa Spider was left standing alone in what was once a field rich in depth and promise Names synonymous with sports cars Triumph Austin Healy even MG the marque that arguably invented the sports car had ...

Page 44: ...only Inspect Distributor and Check Ignition Timing Check Brake System Change Differential Oil Change Oil and Replace Oil Filter Replace Under hood Fuel Filter SPICA only Check Ignition Wires Check Ignition Wiring Check Valve Clearances Adjust as Necessary Change Fuel Tank Filter SPICA only Check Fuel System for Conditioning and Leaks Clean Intake Throats and Check Throttle Plate Alignment SPICA on...

Page 45: ...pion N9Y N A Oil 10W 50 10W 40 winter 20W 50 summer 15W 50 synthetic Tires 155 80 14 to 195 60 15 185 70 14 195 70 14 or 195 60 15 Gear Oil 85W 90 80W 90 Redline HTL Top Material Vinyl Cloth Canvas Vinyl Cloth Brake Fluid DOT 3 N A N A Grease on Spline NLGI 1 N A N A Bearing Grease NLGI 2 3 N A N A N A Either no clear recommendation can be made or the factory recommendation is the most commonly us...

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